Envelope



June 8 1965 L. G. SIMJIAN 3,187,985

ENVELOPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1963 FIG. 2

a d l4 3 so 36 IIIIIII/ 26 44 "fagannrztxzm.m

SENDER'S NAME 56 ADDRESS LUTHER G. SIMJIAN INVENTOR A? TQRNEY p the documents.

.. United States Patent M This application is a continuation-in-part of Serial No, i

296,707, filed on July 22, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates to packaging devices and more particularly to an envelope for transporting documents.

The envelope of this inventionis especially suited for use with a bank depository machine of a type similar to that disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,076,965, granted to me. on February 5, 1963. to receive .an envelope containing a plurality of documents,

This type of machine is adapted such as paper currency and checks, to extract the docue ments from the envelope, to individually photograph and to store the documents, and to provide a receipt for the transaction. 1 r

An envelope which is particularly suited for transporting relatively non-rigid or limp-documents, such as paper currency and checks printed on paper stock, is disclosed in my copending application for US. Letters Patent, Serial No. 288,105, filed on June 1 7, 1963, now abandoned. The envelope therein disclosed comprises a pair of outer panels joined or joinable along their perimeters, one portion of the perimetrical juncture including a multifold arrangemerit, and a bafiie panel disposed between'said. outer panels and'forming a document receiving enclosure with one of said outer panels, one edge of sa idbafiie panel interengaged with said multifold arrangement so as to guide away from the documents an opening means which is thrust through said multifo ld arrangement.

An envelope of a somewhat ditferent design may be advantageously utilized in the event that the documents to be transported are limited to one or more documents of a predetermined size and printed on a relatively rigid stock, such as a card for use with automatic datajprocess ing equipment. An example of such a document is a corporation election proxy card.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an envelope for transporting one or more documents of a predetermined size and of. relatively rigidstock, which en- 33187385 Patented June 8, 1965 FIGURE 7 is a sectional view ofa detail of an additional modification of this invention.

Turning now to the drawings, an envelope 10 is shown assembled and sealed in FIGURE 1. This envelope is formed from a single blank of paper 12, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The paper blank of the first embodiment shown in FIGURES 1, land 3 includes a first quadrilateral'panel 14, and a second quadrilateral panel 16 joined to the panel 14 at a fold line 18. The panels 14' and 1 6 are substantially symmetrically identical about the axis of symmetry provided by the fold line 18. The panels 14- and 16 are here shown as rectangles, however, it is within the ambit of this invention to utilize other geometric shapes.

A side flap 24 is joined to the panel 14 at a fold line 26. A top flapl tl is joined to the panel 14 at a fold ,line 35 A manifold plait 32 is provided by a leg panel fold line 44. i

A strip of adhesive is provided along the distal edge of the side flap 24, at 46, and along the distal edge of the top flap 2-8, at 43. Adhesive is provided over the full surface of the'leg panel 34, a narrow strip of adhesive is provided alongthe' fold line 44 on the panel 33, at 54, and adhesive is provided over the full surface of the :side flap 42. The adhesive is applied to the upper survelope may be automatically opened by a machine and the means and the documents extracted and recorded'without human intervention. i

A feature of this invention is the provision of an envelope, for a document having a given long dimension,

which envelope has a plait at one of its short edges, the plait having two outwardly directed folds and one inwardly directed hold, one of the outwardly directed folds being adhered closed, the internal spacing between .the ventex of the other of the outwardly directed folds and the opposite short edge of the envelope being substantially equal to the long dimension of the document, whereby when the document is inserted in'the envelope a portion of the document is disposed in said other of the outwardly directed folds.

These and other objects and features or" this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjuncton with the accompanying drawings, in which: 3 V

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of an assembled envelope illustrating a. first embodiment of this invention;

face of the paper blank, as shown in FIGURE 2, and this upper surface will generally form the inner surfaces of the envelope 10. a

The paper blank 12 is folded concavely along the fold lines 1 8, 26, 30, as, and 44, and is folded convexly along the fold line 40. As is shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, when the envelope is assembled, the panel ."14 formsthe envelopes outer bottom wall, and the panel 16 forms the 'outer top wall, providing an enclosure therebetween The side flap 24 is folded over and is secured to the outer surfaceof the panel 16. The foldline 36 forms the vertex of a first externally-directed fold, the foldline 40 forms the vertex of a mediate, internally directed fold, and the fold line 44 for-ms the vertex of a second externally directed fold. The inner surface of thepanel 34 is adhered to the adjacent inner surface of the panel 14, closing this first externally directed fold and making this fold rigid. The side flap 42 is folded over and is adhered to the outer surface of t-he panel 16. Similarly, the vertex of the second externally directed fold is .given rigidity by the adhesive strip 54 which is adhered to the inner surface of the panel 16. For the purposes of automatic machine handling, an indicium adapted to be sensed is provided on the assembled envelope toindicate the orientation of the envelope. This indicium is here shown as two notches 5 and 58 cut into the edges of-the two. externally directed folds, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. 111 FIGURE 3, the. notchthrough the first fold is shown as 58a, and the notch through the second fold is shown'as 51%. These the interior or enclosure of the envelope 10. Other means arm.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the long dimension spacing through the enclosure from the vertex or fold line 44 of the second externally directed fold to the opposite juncture ,or fold'line- 26 of the envelope is slightly larger than the given long dimension of the inserted document 66. The first externally directed fold is closed by the adhesive on the panel34 and thus when the document is inserted into the envelope, the only way that it will fit into the envelope is with a portion of the document disposed within the second externally directedfold.

It is not necessary to close the entire Width of the first externally directed'fold, so long as the long dimension spacing through the enclosure from the closed portion to the opposite juncture or fold line 2s is less than the given long dimension of the document 60. However, a

I partly closed fold may confuse a user, who may try. to

' jam a document into a partly closed first externally directed fold, and, therefore, the fully closed fold is preferred.

serted into theenclosure'formed by the panels 14 and 16 with a portion of the document disposed in the second outwardly directed fold which includes the panel 38. The

- The daggerdike element passes between the two externally directed folds and cuts through and severs the internally directed fold at substantially the fold line 40. As the dagger-like element passes into the interior of the envelope it is deflected by the panel 38 away from the portion of the document which is disposed within the second outwardly directed fold, and is thereby precluded from engaging and damaging the document. The fold lines 18, 26, and 30 are subsequently severed, leaving the envelope open along all four edges. The documentis now removed from the envelope. The document and the two portions ofthe envelope may be further processed by the depository machine, particularly the document may be recorded and be read by suitable instrumentalities.

The paper blank 2120f the second embodiment shown in FIGURES 4, S, and 6includes a first quadrilateral panel 214, and a second quadrilateral panel 216 joined 2 to the panel 214 at a fold line 218. The panels 214 and 216 are substantially identical about the axis of symmetry provided by the fold line 218.

A first 'multifold plait 232 is provided by a leg panel 234 which is joined to the panel 214 at a fold line 236, a leg panel 238 which is joined to the panel 234 at a fold line 240, and a side flap 242 which is joined to the panel 238 at a fold line 244. A second multifold plait' 233 is provided by a leg panel 235 which is joined to the panel 214 at a fold line 226;, a leg panel 239 which is joined to the panel 235 at a fold line 241, and a side flap 243 which is joined to the panel 239 at a fold line 245. A

- full surface of the leg panel 234, a narrow strip of adhesive .is' provided along the fold line 244 on the panel 238, at 254, and adhesive is provided over the full surface of the Side flap 242. A narrow strip of adhesive is protop flap 228 is joined to the panel 214 at a fold line 4 vided along the fold line22d on the panel 235, at 247, and adhesive is provided over the full surface of the panels 239 and 243. The adhesive is applied to the upper surface of the paper blank, as shown in FIGURE 5, and this upper surface will generally form the inner surfaces of the envelope 21d.

The paper blank 212 is folded concavely along the fold lines 218, 226,233, 236, 244, and 245. As is shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, when the envelope is assembled the panel 214 forms the envelopes outer bottom wall and the panel 216 forms the outer top wall. The fold line 236 forms the vertex of a first externally directed fold, the

' the panel 214, closing this first externally directed fold of the first plait and making this fold rigid. The side flap 242 is folded over and is adhered to the outer surface of the panel 216. The. vertex of the second externally directed fold is given rigidity by the adhesive strip 254 which isadhered to the inner surface of the panel 216. The fold line 226 forms the vertex of a first externally directed fold of the second plait, which vertex is given rigidity by the adhesive strip 247 which is adhered to the innersurface of the panel 214. The fold line 241 forms the vertex of a mediate, internally directed fold, and the fold line 245 forms the vertex of a second externally directed fold. The inner surface of the panel 239 is adhered to the adjacent inner surface of the panel 216 while the inner surface of the sideflap 243 is adhered to the adjacent outer surface of the panel 216.

This second embodiment is utilized in a manner similar to thatfor the first embodiment. The document 260 is inserted into the enclosure formed by the panels 214 and 216. A portion of the document is disposed in the second outwardly directed fold of the first plant which includes the panel 238, and another portion of the document is disposed in the first outwardly directed fold of the second plait which includes the panel 235. When the envelope is received by the depository machine, either end of the envelope may be opened bythe dagger-like element Zed. Thus it is not necessary for the machine to determine whether the correct one of the two ends of the envelope has been correctly presented to the machine, so

long as it is an end which is presented. This can be effected by making the entrance to thedepository machine smaller than the lengthof the envelope and at least as large as the width of the envelope.

' in FIGURE 7. In this modification the two folds of each An additional modification of this invention is shown plait of the envelope are formed of unequal width. Thus, in the exemplary case of the plait 333, the fold including the fold line 325 which receives the document 360 is made narrower than the glued-together fold including the fold line 345. The plait 333 may be spread apart, to receive the dagger-like element at the fold line 341, by a projecting arm which engages and depresses the wide fold and not the narrow fold. I

It is thus apparent that the-envelope of this invention is ideally adapted for transmitting certain types of documents which can be extracted from the envelope, and be suitably processed subsequent to such extraction, all this being accomplished without human intervention.

While certain embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the 'art that other modifications maybe made without departing from the principles of this invention which shall be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

, I claim:

1. The combination of an envelope and a document for use in conjunction with a depository apparatus which is provided with means for receiving and for opening an envelope and for freeing a document contained therein, wherein:

said document is a rectangle having a given long dimension;

said envelope includes a pair of rectangular panels providing a front and a back panel, said panels being joined to each other along three sides thereof to provide an enclosure;

the joint along one of said sides including a fluted fold having a central fold reaching into said enclosure and two outer folds directed away from said enclosure;

one of said outer folds being at least partially closed and the unobstructed long dimension from said closed outer fold through said enclosure to the opposite side of said envelope being less than said given long dimension of said document;

the other of said outer folds being open and the unobstructed long dimension from said open outer fold through said enclosure to said opposite side of said envelope being greater than said given long dimension of said document;

said document being disposed in said enclosure with a portion of said document disposed within said open outer fold and the opposite document edge disposed substantially in the joint defining said opposite side of said envelope,

and a flap joined to the fourth side of one of said panels for overlying, when folded, the fourth side of said other panel whereby to close said enclosure.

2. The combination of an envelope and a document for use in conjunction with a depository apparatus which is provided with means for receiving and for opening an envelope and for freeing a document contained therein, wherein:

said document is a rectangle having a given long dimension;

said envelope includes a pair of rectangular panels providing a front and a back panel, said panels being joined to each other along three sides thereof to provide an enclosure;

each of the joints along two opposite ones of said sides including a fluted multifold having a central fold reaching into said enclosure and two outer folds directed away from said enclosure;

one of said outer folds of each of said fluted multifolds being at least partially closed and the unobstructed long dimension between said opposite partially closed outer folds through said enclosure being less than said given long dimension of said document;

the other of said outer folds of each of said fluted multifolds being open and the unobstructed long dimension between said opposite open folds through said enclosure being greater than said given long dimension of said document;

said document being disposed in said enclosure with a portion of said document disposed within one of said open outer folds and another portion of said document disposed within the other and opposite one of said open outer folds;

and a flap joined to the fourth side of one of said panels for overlying, when folded, the fourth side of said other panel whereby to close said enclosure.

3. An envelope for transporting a quadrilateral document having a given long dimension, comprising:

a first and a second substantially identical quadrilateral outer panel;

each of three of said laterals of said first outer panel having a juncture with a corresponding lateral of said second outer panel, said panels thereby forming an enclosure;

one of said junctures including a plait having a first externally directed fold adjacent said first outer panel, a second externally directed fold adjacent said second outer panel, and therebetween an internally directed fold;

said first and said second externally directed folds each being substantially V shape in cross-section, each having two legs and a vertex;

the inner adjacent surfaces of said two legs of one of said externally directed folds being adhered to each other at least in part, the spacing from said adhered surfaces to the opposite lateral of said enclosure being less than the given long dimension of the document, thereby preventing the insertion of the document within this fold;

the spacing from said vertex of the other of said externally directed folds to the opposite lateral of said enclosure being slightly greater than the given long dimension of the document, whereby when the document is inserted into said enclosure a portion of the document is disposed within this other fold;

one of said outer panels having a flap attached to its fourth lateral for overlying said other of said outer panels for providing a juncture between the fourth laterals of said panels, thereby closing said enclosure, and

a sensible indicium provided on said first and second fold on said envelope for providing a means whereby the orientation of said envelope may be determined.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,434,097 10/22 Conner 229-68 2,675,170 4/54 Sebesta. 3,023,947 3/62 McDuffie 229- 3,073,508 1/63 Hiersteiner 22968 3,076,965 2/63 Simjian.

55 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION OF AN ENVELOPE AND A DOCUMENT FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A DEPOSITORY APPARATUS WHICH IS PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR RECEIVING AND FOR OPENING AN ENVELOPE AND FOR FREEING A DOCUMENT CONTAINED THEREIN, WHEREIN: SAID DOCUMENT IS A RECTANGLE HAVING A GIVEN LONG DIMENSION; SAID ENVELOPE INCLUDES A PAIR OF RECTANGULAR PANELS PROVIDING A FRONT AND A BACK PANEL, SAID PANELS BEING JOINED TO EACH OTHER ALONG THREE SIDES THEREOF TO PROVIDE AN ENCLOSURE; THE JOINT ALONG ONE OF SAID SIDES INCLUDING A FLUTED FOLD HAVING A CENTRAL FOLD REACHING INTO SAID ENCLOSURE AND TWO OUTER FOLDS DIRECTED AWAY FROM SAID ENCLOSURE; ONE OF SAID OUTER FOLDS BEING AT LEAST PARTIALLY CLOSED AND THE UNOBSTRUCTED LONG DIMENSION FROM SAID CLOSED OUTER FOLD THROUGH SAID ENCLOSURE TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID ENVELOPE BEING LESS THAN SAID GIVEN LONG DIMENSION OF SAID DOCUMENT; THE OTHER OF SAID OUTER FOLDS BEING OPEN AND THE UNOBSTRUCTED LONG DIMENSION FROM SAID OPEN OUTER FOLD THROUGH SAID ENCLOSURE TO SAID OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID ENVELOPE BEING GREATER THAN SAID GIVEN LONG DIMENSION OF SAID DOCUMENT; SAID DOCUMENT BEING DISPOSED IN SAID ENCLOSURE WITH A PORTION OF SAID DOCUMENT DISPOSED WITHIN SAID OPEN OUTER FOLD AND THE OPPOSITE DOCUMENT EDGE DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE JOINT DEFINING SAID OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID ENVELOPE, AND A FLAP JOINED TO THE FOURTH SIDE OF ONE OF SAID PANELS FOR OVERLYING, WHEN FOLDED, THE FOURTH SIDE OF SAID OTHER PANEL WHEREBY TO CLOSE SAID ENCLOSURE. 